Heimo Haitto

By 1939, Heimo Haitto was, at 14, already well-known as a violinist throughout his native Finland and Europe. The Russo-Finnish war threw family life into disarray. Heimo's father decided to send his prodigy son to the States together with the boy's music teacher, Boris Sirpo who took him to safety in America and settled in Los Angeles. Heimo's 2 brothers and 1 sister remained in Finland. Haitto furthered his violin studies with noted teacher Peter Meremblum, and he appeared in the movie "There's Magic in Music," his only American film appearance. When he turned 18, he served in the Army. Shortly after the war, he resettled in Los Angeles, obtained his citizenship, married cellist Beverly Le Beck, and became a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He was in great demand for concert appearances. Life looked promising. Unfortunately, the unbuttoned, easygoing Haitto couldn't stay out of trouble. He had what many would call a Bohemian lifestyle, always living for the moment without regard for the future. While not an alcoholic, he did enjoy drinking and partying, probably more so than was wise. His marriage to LeBeck ended in divorce. Frequent absences and other problems led to his dismissal from the L.A. Philharmonic. He concertized in the 1950s and was conductor of the Capital Symphony in Salem Oregon. Heimo Haitto returned to Finland shortly in the mid 60's and married Finnish actress Marja-Liisa Nisula and returned to concertizing in the United States and Europe. Haitto returned later again to Finland, where he served as an instructor at the Lahti Conservatory. He was technical consultant for a 1986 Finnish movie "Da Capo", which was based upon his life. Haitto died in 1999 at age 74.